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The National Defense University
Office of Academic Affairs
$
Washington, DC 20319-5066
Strategic Leadership Foundational Course
Syllabus Framework
March 5, 2014
In accordance with the National Defense University (NDU) President’s memorandum of
February 21, 2014, titled NDU Cwriculum Implementation for A Y 2014-15, this syllabus
framework provides additional guidance for the NDU Colleges at Fort McNair to finalize
College-specific syllabi, tailored to College missions as appropriate, for a six-week, Phase-I,
course, also called the Strategic Leadership Foundational Course (SLFC), to run from August 4,
2014 to September 12, 2014.
Common University Learning Outcomes: The following learning outcomes will be attained in
Phase-I. Students that succesflully achieve these learning outcomes will earn four credits toward a
Master’s Degree. In each case the estimated approximate number of contact hours recommended
to attain the desired learning outcomes is also indicated.
1. Analyze decisions against ethical standards and the shared values of the profession of
arms (12 hours) Joint Advanced Warfighting School will participate in these sessions.
.
2. Apply critical and strategic thinking tools for understanding the security environment,
and for anticipating and managing complexity, uncertainty, change, and surprise. (18
hours)
3. Evaluate the enduring lessons from the Decade of War. (5 hours)’
4. Apply tools for developing trust, and for understanding and leading change. (9 hours)
5. Comprehend the National Security Strategy and National Military Strategy. (5 hours)
6. Comprehend the role ofjoint planning processes and systems in the development and
execution of national-level strategy. (5 hours)
7. Comprehend the role of theater strategy and campaigning in the development and
execution of national-level strategy. (5 hours)
8. Comprehend the role ofjoint doctrine in the development and execution of national-level
strategy. (3 hours)
9. Comprehend the role of operational contract support in the development and execution of
national-level strategy. (2 hours)
Lessons from a Decade of War will focus at the strategic-level and will be integrated into
various other lesson areas, such as ethics and the profession of arms, critical and strategic
thinking, and Desired Leader Attributes; therefore it will receive more attention than the hours
above indicate.
DLAs and JPME: The common university learning outcomes described above will be addressed
in a manner that will enhance student learning about Desired Leader Attributes (DLAs) and will
introduce the statutory requirements for Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) The
attached graphic attempts to map the connections between learning outcomes, DLAs and JPME
requirements.
.
Planning for Execution: Pursuit of the Common University Learning Outcomes shall be
interwoven across the last five weeks of Phase-i (from Il August until 12 September), rather
than in concentrated, sequential blocks of instruction. For planning purposes the Colleges should
schedule no more than 13 contact hours per week, with academic activities on Mondays,
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Ideally, SLFC topics will be integrated so more than one
learning outcome may be addressed within a given contact hour. Time for the study of ethics
should be blocked in recurring weekly time-slots (e.g., Monday mornings) and given top priority
on the calendar due to the senior distinguished lecturers anticipated for those lessons. The goal
is to have these four distinguished speakers scheduled by 15 April 2014. (Ethics and Character
should be touched on in every lesson during the entire acaemic year). Other academic sessions
should also be blocked on the calendar (e.g., Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings) and
should be given priority just behind the study of ethics. Student meetings with advisors should
take place outside of blocked academic time-slots. Wednesdays will be reserved for resiliancy
(screening for health/fitness, tim run etc), library orientation, and other non-credit bearing
activities.
CAPSTONE EXERCISE: We must remember that NDU’s mission is to develop leaders who
have the ability to operate and creatively think in an unpredictable and complex world. With the
SLFC learning objectives and University mission in mind, a capstone exercise of approximately
two days will be developed to be the culminating event for the course.
j
JOHN W. YAEGER, Ed..
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
JPME:
National
Military
Strategy
Joint Planning
at all Levels
olWar
Joint
Doctrine
Joint
Command
&Control
Jointrorce &
Joint Requirements
Development
Operational
Contract
Support
National
Secirity
Strategy
Theater
Strategy &
Campaigning
Joint Planning
Processes
&Systems
Joint, Interagency,
& Multi-National
Capabiliues
K
V
-
--
DLAs:
1. Understandthe
Security Environment
& Instruments of
National Power
2. AntIcipate
and Respond
to Surprise &
Uncertainty
3. Anticipateand
Recognize Change
& Lead Transitions
4. Operate on Intent
through Trust, Empower
ment and Understanding
(Mission Command)
5. Make Ethical
Decisions Based on
Shared Values of the
Profession of Arms
6. ThinkCriticaliyJStrategically
in ApplyingiointWarflghtlng
Principles and Concepts to
Joint Operations
—
*
Phase I
Phase II
(Common Introduction to Joint Mailers)
(College Core Curricula)
(Tailored Leader
Development)
--
(Mission-tailored JPRJE II focus)
Lessons from a Decade of War/Applied to Anticipating Future Challenges
o
Analyze decisions against ethical standards and the shared
values of the profession of arms
12 hrs
Apply critical and strategic thinking tools for understanding the
security environment, and for anticipatIng and managing
complexity, uncertainty, change, and surprise
lShrs
-
DIAs 1, 2, 3
& 6; JPME
University
College
Student
Collobo ration
-
Cl SA (Irregular Warfare/Coun4errorism)
r
Evaluate the enduring lessons from the Decade of War
5 firs
ES (National Security & Resourj Stntegy)
Apply tools for developing trust, and for understanding and
leading change
9 hrs
Comprehend the National Security Strategy and National
MilItary Strategy
0
‘S
IS
SM
comprehend the role of joint planning processes and systems in
the development and execution of national-level strategy 5 hrs
NWC (National Security stratek
Comprehend the role of theater strategy and campaigning in
the development and execution of national-level strategy S hrs
.-.
I
SI th’l
S
-
Comprehend the role of joint doctrine in the development and
execution of national-level strategy
3hn
Comprehend the role of operational contract support In the
development and execution of national-level strategy
2hrs
a
SI th’il S
F
H:
S
H:’
SNIS
IL.>.
Single “Foundational” course = 64 hrs, 5 weeks
Meets some JPME II requirements fully; others met in Phase Il
Focused otnationolstrategk level
Mix of activities that are common for all NDU students with
college-specific activities
Learning Outcomes interwoven across S weeks, not separate
blocks; and all hours are approximations
I